Method of plant growth promotion using amide compounds

ABSTRACT

A method for treating plants in need of growth promotion, comprising applying to said plants, to the seeds from which they grow or to the locus in which they grow, a non-phytotoxic, effective plant growth promoting amount of an amide compound having the formula A-CO—NR 1 R 2  in which A is an aryl group or an aromatic or non-aromatic, 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which has from 1 to 3 hetero atoms which are selected from O, N and S; where the aryl group or the heterocycle may or may not have 1, 2 or 3 substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, halogen, CHF 2 , CF 3 , alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl and alkylsulfonyl; R 1  is a hydrogen atom; R 2  is a phenyl or cycloalkyl group which may or may not have 1, 2 or 3 substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkenyloxy, phenyl and halogen, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be partially or fully halogenated and/or the cycloaliphatic radicals may be substituted by from 1 to 3 alkyl groups and where the phenyl group may have from 1 to 5 halogen atoms and/or from 1 to 3 substituents which are selected, in dependently of one another, from alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio and haloalkylthio, and where the amidic phenyl group may or may not be condensed with a saturated 5-membered ring which may or may not be substituted by one or more alkyl groups and/or may have a hetero atom selected from O and S.

The present invention relates to a new method of plant treatment that is able to induce positive growth regulating responses.

The term “method for regulating plant growth” or the term “growth regulation process” or the use of the words “growth regulation” or other terms using the word “regulate” as used in the instant specification mean a variety of plant responses which attempt to improve some characteristic of the plant as distinguished from pesticidal action, the intention of which is to destroy or stunt a growth of a plant or a living being. For this reason the compounds used in the practice of this invention are used in amounts which are non-phytotoxic with respect to the plant being treated.

More precisely, the present invention relates to the use of certain amide compounds, in particular nicotinamide compounds in order to induce growth-regulating responses.

EP-A 0545099 describes amide derivatives and their use to combat Botrytis. Nothing is disclosed with regard to a plant growth promotion effect.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of plant growth in order to obtain better plants, higher crop yield, better crop quality and better conditions of agricultural practices.

We have found that this object is achieved by a method for treating plants in need of growth promotion, comprising applying to said plants, to the seeds from which they grow or to the locus in which they grow, a non-phytotoxic, effective plant growth promoting amount of an amide compound having the formula I A-CO—NR¹R²  I in which

-   A is an aryl group or an aromatic or non-aromatic, 5- or 6-membered     heterocycle which has from 1 to 3 hetero atoms which are selected     from O, N and S; where the aryl group or the heterocycle may or may     not have 1, 2 or 3 substituents which are selected, independently of     one another, from alkyl, halogen, CHF₂, CF₃, alkoxy, haloalkoxy,     alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl and alkylsulfonyl; -   R¹ is a hydrogen atom; -   R² is a phenyl or cycloalkyl group which may or may not have 1, 2 or     3 substituents which are selected, independently of one another,     from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy,     cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkenyloxy, phenyl and     halogen, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be     partially or fully halogenated and/or the cycloaliphatic radicals     may be substituted by from 1 to 3 alkyl groups and where the phenyl     group may have from 1 to 5 halogen atoms and/or from 1 to 3     substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from     alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio and haloalkylthio,     and where the amidic phenyl group may or may not be condensed with a     saturated 5-membered ring which may or may not be substituted by one     or more alkyl groups and/or may have a hetero atom selected from O     and S.

In the context of the present invention, halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine and is in particular fluorine, chlorine and bromine.

The term “alkyl” includes straight-chain and branched alkyl groups. These are preferably straight-chain or branched C₁-C₁₂-alkyl and in particular C₁-C₆-alkyl groups. Examples of alkyl groups are alkyl such as, in particular, methyl, ethyl, propyl, 1-methylethyl, butyl, 1-methylpropyl, 2-methylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylethyl, n-pentyl, 1-methylbutyl, 2-methylbutyl, 3-methylbutyl, 1,2-dimethylpropyl, 1,1-dimethylpropyl, 2,2-dimethylpropyl, 1-ethylpropyl, n-hexyl, 1-methylpentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 1,2-dimethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, 1,1-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethyl-butyl, 3,3-dimethylbutyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,2,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-ethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, n-heptyl, 1-methylhexyl, 1-ethylpentyl, 2-ethylpentyl, 1-propylbutyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl.

Haloalkyl is an alkyl group as defined above which is partially or fully halogenated by one or more halogen atoms, in particular by fluorine and chlorine. Preferably, there are from 1 to 3 halogen atoms present, and the difluoromethyl or the trifluoromethyl group is particularly preferred.

The above statements for the alkyl group and the haloalkyl group apply in a corresponding manner to the alkyl and haloalkyl groups in alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkylsulfinyl and alkylsulfonyl.

The alkenyl group includes straight-chain and branched alkenyl groups. These are preferably straight-chain or branched C₃-C₁₂-alkenyl groups and in particular C₃-C₆-alkenyl groups. Examples of alkenyl groups are 2-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1-ethyl-2-butenyl, 1-ethyl-3-butenyl, 2-ethyl-2-butenyl, 2-ethyl-3-butenyl, 1,1,2-trimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propenyl and 1-ethyl-2-methyl-2-propenyl, in particular 2-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl and 3-methyl-2-pentenyl.

The alkenyl group may be partially or fully halogenated by one or more halogen atoms, in particular by fluorine and chlorine. The alkenyl group preferably has from 1 to 3 halogen atoms.

The alkynyl group includes straight-chain and branched alkynyl groups. These are preferably straight-chain and branched C₃-C₁₂-alkynyl groups and in particular C₃-C₆-alkynyl groups. Examples of alkynyl groups are 2-propynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, 1-methyl-2-propynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 4-pentynyl, 1-methyl-3-butynyl, 2-methyl-3-butynyl, 1-methyl-2-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl, 1-ethyl-2-propynyl, 2-hexynyl, 3-hexynyl, 4-hexynyl, 5-hexynyl, 1-methyl-2-pentynyl, 1-methyl-3-pentynyl, 1-methyl-4-pentynyl, 2-methyl-3-pentynyl, 2-methyl-4-pentynyl, 3-methyl-4-pentynyl, 4-methyl-2-pentynyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 1-ethyl-2-butynyl, 1-ethyl-3-butynyl, 2-ethyl-3-butynyl and 1-ethyl-1-methyl-2-propynyl.

The above statements for the alkenyl group and its halogen substituents and for the alkynyl group apply in a corresponding manner to alkenyloxy and alkynyloxy.

The cycloalkyl group is preferably a C₃-C₆-cycloalkyl group, such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl. If the cycloalkyl group is substituted, it preferably has from 1 to 3 C₁-C₄-alkyl radicals as substituents.

Cycloalkenyl is preferably a C₄-C₆-cycloalkenyl group, such as cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl or cyclohexenyl. If the cycloalkenyl group is substituted, it preferably has from 1 to 3 C₁-C₄-alkyl radicals as substituents.

A cycloalkoxy group is preferably a C₅-C₆-cycloalkoxy group, such as cyclopentyloxy or cyclohexyloxy. If the cycloalkoxy group is substituted, it preferably has from 1 to 3 C₁-C₄-alkyl radicals as substituents.

The cycloalkenyloxy group is preferably a C₅-C₆-cycloalkenyloxy group, such as cyclopentyloxy or cyclohexyloxy. If the cycloalkenyloxy group is substituted, it preferably has from 1 to 3 C₁-C₄-alkyl radicals as substituents.

Aryl is preferably phenyl.

If A is a phenyl group, this may have one, two or three of the abovementioned substituents in any position. These substituents are preferably selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl and halogen, in particular chlorine, bromine and iodine. Particularly preferably, the phenyl group has a substituent in the 2-position.

If A is a 5-membered heterocycle, it is in particular a furyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, oxazolyl, thienyl, triazolyl or thiadiazolyl radical or the corresponding dihydro or tetrahydro derivatives thereof. Preference is given to a thiazolyl or pyrazolyl radical.

If A is a 6-membered heterocycle, it is in particular a pyridyl radical or a radical of the formula:

in which one of the radicals X and Y is O, S or NR¹², where R¹² is H or alkyl, and the other of the radicals X and Y is CH₂, S, SO, SO₂ or NR⁹. The dotted line means that a double bond may or may not be present.

The 6-membered aromatic heterocycle is particularly preferably a pyridyl radical, in particular a 3-pyridyl radical, or a radical of the formula

in which X is CH₂, S, SO or SO₂.

The heterocyclic radicals mentioned may or may not have 1, 2 or 3 of the abovementioned substituents, where these substituents are preferably selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, halogen, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl.

A is particularly preferably a radical of the formulae:

in which R³, R⁴, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸ and R⁹ independently of one another are hydrogen, alkyl, in particular methyl, halogen, in particular chlorine, CHF₂ or CF₃.

The radical R¹ in the formula I is preferably a hydrogen atom.

The radical R² in the formula I is preferably a phenyl radical. R² preferably has at least one substituent which is particularly preferably in the 2-position. The substituent (or the substituents) is (are) preferably selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, halogen or phenyl.

The substituents of the radical R² may in turn be substituted again. The aliphatic or cycloaliphatic substituents may be partially or fully halogenated, in particular fluorinated or chlorinated. They preferably have 1, 2 or 3 fluorine or chlorine atoms. If the substituent of the radical R² is a phenyl group, this phenyl group may preferably be substituted by from 1 to 3 halogen atoms, In particular chlorine atoms, and/or by a radical which is preferably selected from alkyl and alkoxy. Particularly preferably, the phenyl group is substituted with a halogen atom in the p-position, i.e. the particularly preferred substituent of the radical R² is a p-halogen-substituted phenyl radical. The radical R² may also be condensed with a saturated 5-membered ring, where this ring for its part may have from 1 to 3 alkyl substituents.

R² is in this case, for example, indanyl, thiaindanyl and oxaindanyl. Preference is given to indanyl and 2-oxaindanyl which are attached to the nitrogen atom in particular via the 4-position.

According to a preferred embodiment, the composition according to the invention comprises as amide compound a compound of the formula I in which A is as defined below:

phenyl, pyridyl, dihydropyranyl, dihydrooxathinyl, dihydrooxathiinyl oxide, dihydrooxathiinyl dioxide, furyl, thiazolyl, pyrazolyl or oxazolyl, where these groups may have 1, 2 or 3 substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, halogen, difluoromethyl and trifluoromethyl.

According to a further preferred embodiment, A is:

pyridin-3-yl, which may or may not be substituted in the 2-position by halogen, methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, methoxy, methylthio, methylsulfinyl or methylsulfonyl; phenyl, which may or may not be substituted in the 2-position by methyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorine, bromine or iodine;

2-methyl-5,6-dihydropyran-3-yl;

2-methyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-oxathiin-3-yl or the 4-oxide or 4,4-dioxide thereof;

2-methylfuran-3-yl, which may or may not be substituted in the 4- and/or 5-position by methyl;

thiazol-5-yl, which may or may not be substituted in the 2- and/or 4-position by methyl, chlorine, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

thiazol-4-yl, which may or may not be substituted in the 2- and/or 5-position by methyl, chlorine, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl;

1-methylpyrazol-4-yl, which may or may not be substituted in the 3- and/or 5-position by methyl, chlorine, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl; or

oxazol-5-yl, which may or may not be substituted in the 2- and/or 4-position by methyl or chlorine.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the compositions according to the invention comprise as amide compound a compound of the formula I in which R² is a phenyl group which may or may not be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 of the abovementioned substituents.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the compositions according to the invention comprise as amide compound a compound of the formula I in which R² is a phenyl group which has one of the following substituents in the 2-position:

C₃-C₆-alkyl, C₅-C₆-cycloalkenyl, C₅-C₆-cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkenyloxy, where these groups may be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 C₁-C₄-alkyl groups,

phenyl which is substituted by from 1 to 5 halogen atoms and/or from 1 to 3 groups which are selected, independently of one another, from C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkylthio and C₁-C₄-haloalkylthio,

indanyl or oxaindanyl which may or may not be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 C₁-C₄-alkyl groups.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the compositions according to the invention comprise as amide compound a compound of the formula Ia,

in which A is

X is methylene, sulfur, sulfinyl or sulfonyl (SO₂), R³ is methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorine, bromine or iodine, R⁴ is trifluoromethyl or chlorine, R⁵ is hydrogen or methyl, R⁶ is methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl or chlorine, R⁷ is hydrogen, methyl or chlorine, R⁸ is methyl, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl, R⁹ is hydrogen, methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl or chlorine, R¹⁰ is C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkylthio or halogen.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the compositions comprise as amide compound a compound of the formula Ib

in which R⁴ is halogen and R¹¹ is phenyl which is substituted by halogen.

Preferred are in particular the two amide compounds of the following formula A fungicidal mixture as claimed in claim 1, which comprises as amide compound a compound of the formulae below:

Most preferred is 2-chloro-N-(4-chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)nicotinamide with the common name boscalid.

Useful amide compounds of the formula I are mentioned in EP-A-545 099 and 589 301 which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

The preparation of the amide compounds of the formula I is known, for example, from EP-A-545 099 or 589 301 or can be carried out by similar processes.

The amide compounds used in the method of the present invention have been found to display a wide variety of plant growth regulating properties, depending upon the concentration used, the formulation employed and the type of plant species treated.

By virtue of the practice of the present invention a wide variety of plant growth responses, including the following:

a) bigger fruit size

b) bigger vegetable size

c) higher sugar concentration of fruits

d) more developed root system

e) higher crop firmness

f) longer storability

g) improved appearance

h) better fruit finish

i) earlier fruit maturation

j) increase in plant height

k) bigger leaf blade

l) less dead basal leaves

m) greener leaf color

n) earlier flowering

o) increased shoot growth

p) improved plant vigour

q) early germination.

It is intended that as used in the instant specification the term “method for regulating plant growth” means the achievement of any of the aforementioned 16 categories of response as well as any other modification of plant, seed, fruit, vegetable, whether the fruit or vegetable is un-harvested or has been harvested, so long as the net result is to increase growth and quality or benefit any property of the plant, seed, fruit or vegetable as distinguished from any pesticidal action. The term “fruit” as used in the instant specification is to be understood as meaning anything of economic value that is produced by the plant.

Certain preliminary details connected with the foregoing 16 categories should make for a better appreciation of the invention.

Description of possible formulations may be found in patent applications EP-A-545 099 and EP-A-589 301.

The application rates of the compounds I are from 0.005 to 0.5 kg/ha, preferably 0.01 to 0.2 kg/ha, in particular 0.02 to 0.1 kg/ha.

For seed treatment, the application rates of the mixture are generally from 0.001 to 250 g/kg of seed, preferably 0.01 to 100 g/kg, in particular 0.01 to 50 g/kg.

The amide compounds I, can be formulated for example in the form of ready-to-spray solutions, powders and suspensions or in the form of highly concentrated aqueous, oily or other suspensions, dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dusts, materials for broadcasting or granules, and applied by spraying, atomizing, dusting, broadcasting or watering. The use form depends on the intended purpose; in any case, it should ensure as fine and uniform as possible a distribution of the mixture according to the invention.

The formulations are prepared in a known manner, e.g. by extending the active ingredient with solvents and/or carriers, if desired using emulsifiers and dispersants, it being possible also to use other organic solvents as auxiliary solvents if water is used as the diluent. Suitable auxiliaries for this purpose are essentially: solvents such as aromatics (e.g. xylene), chlorinated aromatics (e.g. chlorobenzenes), paraffins (e.g. mineral oil fractions), alcohols (e.g. methanol, butanol), ketones (e.g. cyclohexanone), amines (e.g. ethanolamine, dimethylformamide) and water; carriers such as ground natural minerals (e.g. kaolins, clays, talc, chalk) and ground synthetic minerals (e.g. finely divided silica, silicates); emulsifiers such as nonionic and anionic emulsifiers (e.g. polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, alkylsulfonates and arylsulfonates) and dispersants such as lignosulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose.

Suitable surfactants are the alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts of aromatic sulfonic acids, e.g. ligno-, phenol-, naphthalene- and dibutyinaphthalenesulfonic acid, and of fatty acids, alkyl- and alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl, lauryl ether and fatty alcohol sulfates, and salts of sulfated hexa-, hepta- and octadecanols, or of fatty alcohol glycol ethers, condensates of sulfonated naphthalene and its derivatives with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or of the naphthalenesulfonic acids with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, ethoxylated isooctyl-, octyl- or nonylphenol, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ethers, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, isotridecyl alcohol, fatty alcohol/ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers or polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetate, sorbitol esters, lignosulfite waste liquors or methylcellulose.

Powders, materials for broadcasting and dusts can be prepared by mixing or jointly grinding the amide compounds I with a solid carrier.

Granules (e.g. coated granules, impregnated granules or homogeneous granules) are usually prepared by binding the active ingredient, or active ingredients, to a solid carrier.

Fillers or solid carriers are, for example, mineral earths, such as silicas, silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials and fertilizers, such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas, and products of vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nutshell meal, cellulose powders or other solid carriers.

The formulations generally comprise from 0.1 to 95% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 90% by weight, of the compound. The active ingredients are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum or HPLC).

Examples of such preparations comprising the active ingredients are:

-   I. A solution of 90 parts by weight of the active ingredients and 10     parts by weight of N-methylpyrrolidone; this solution is suitable     for use in the form of microdrops; -   II. A mixture of 20 parts by weight of the active Ingredients, 80     parts by weight of xylene, 10 parts by weight of the adduct of 8 to     10 mol of ethylene oxide and 1 mol of oleic acid N-monoethanolamide,     5 parts by weight of the calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic     acid, 5 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 mol of ethylene oxide     and 1 mol of castor oil; a dispersion is obtained by finely     distributing the solution in water; -   III. An aqueous dispersion of 20 parts by weight of the active     ingredients, 40 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, 30 parts by weight     of isobutanol, 20 parts by weight of the adduct of 40 mol of     ethylene oxide and 1 mol of castor oil; -   IV. An aqueous dispersion of 20 parts by weight of the active     ingredients, 25 parts by weight of cyclohexanol, 65 parts by weight     of a mineral oil fraction of boiling point 210 to 280° C., and 10     parts by weight of the adduct of 40 mol of ethylene oxide and 1 mol     of castor oil; -   V. A mixture, ground in a hammer mill, of 80 parts by weight of the     active ingredients, 3 parts by weight of the sodium salt of     diisobutylnaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid, 10 parts by weight of the     sodium salt of a lignosulfonic acid from a sulfite waste liquor and     7 parts by weight of pulverulent silica gel; a spray mixture is     obtained by finely distributing the mixture in water; -   VI. An intimate mixture of 3 parts by weight of the active     ingredients and 97 parts by weight of finely divided kaolin; this     dust comprises 3% by weight of active ingredient; -   VII. An intimate mixture of 30 parts by weight of the active     ingredients, 92 parts by weight of pulverulent silica gel and 8     parts by weight of paraffin oil which had been sprayed onto the     surface of this silica gel; this formulation imparts good adhesion     to the active ingredient; -   VII. A stable aqueous dispersion of 40 parts by weight of the active     ingredients, 10 parts by weight of the sodium salt of a     phenolsulfonic acid/urea/formaldehyde condensate,     -   2 parts by weight of silica gel and 48 parts by weight of water;         this dispersion may be diluted further; -   IX. A stable oily dispersion of 20 parts by weight of the active     ingredients, 2 parts by weight of the calcium salt of     dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, 8 parts by weight of fatty alcohol     polyglycol ether, 20 parts by weight of the sodium salt of a     phenolsulfonic acid/urea/formaldehyde condensate and 88 parts by     weight of a paraffinic mineral oil.

The amide compounds according to the invention may also be present in combination with other active compounds, for example with herbicides, insecticides, growth regulators, fungicides or else with fertilizers. In many cases, a mixture of the amide compounds I, or of the compositions comprising them, in the use form as growth promotors with other active compounds results in a broader spectrum of activity.

The following list of fungicides in combination with which the amide compounds according to the invention can be used is intended to illustrate the possible combinations, but not to impose any limitation:

-   -   sulfur, dithiocarbamates and their derivatives, such as         iron(III) dimethyldithiocarbamate; zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate,         zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate, manganese         ethylenebisdithiocarbamate, manganese zinc         ethylenediaminebisdithiocarbamate, tetramethylthiuram disulfide,         ammonia complex of zinc (N,N-ethylenebisdithiocarbamate),         ammonia complex of zinc (N,N′-propylenebis-dithiocarbamate),         zinc (N,N′-propylenebisdithiocarbamate),         N,N′-polypropylen-ebis(thiocarbamoyl)disulfide;     -   nitro derivatives, such as dinitro-(1-methylheptyl)phenyl         crotonate, 2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenyl-3,3-dimethyl acrylate,         2-sec-butyl-4,6-dinitrophenylisopropyl carbonate, diisopropyl         5-nitroisophthalate;     -   heterocyclic substances, such as 2-heptadecyl-2-imidazoline         acetate, 2,4-dichloro-6-(o-chloroanilino)-s-triazine,         O,O-diethyl phthalimidophosphonothioate,         5-amino-1-[bis(dimethylamino)phosphinyl]-3-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole,         2,3-dicyano-1,4-dithioanthraquinone,         2-thio-1,3-dithiolo[4,5-b]quinoxaline, methyl         1-(butyl-carbamoyl)-2-benzimidazolecarbamate,         2-methoxycarbonylaminobenzimidazole, 2-(furyl-(2))benzimidazole,         2-(thiazolyl-(4))benzimidazole,         N-(1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylthio)tetrahydrophthalimide,         N-trichloromethylthiotetrahydro-phthalimide,         N-trichloromethylthiophthalimide;     -   N-dichlorofluoromethylthio-N′,N′-dimethyl-N-phenylsulfuric         diamide, 5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-1,2,3-thiadiazole,         2-thiocyanatomethylthiobenzothiazole,         1,4-dichloro-2,5-dimethoxybenzene,         4-(2-chlorophenylhydrazono)-3-methyl-5-isoxazolone, pyridine         2-thio-1-oxide, 8-hydroxyquinoline or its copper salt,         2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathiine,         2,3-dihydro-5-carboxanilido-6-methyl-1,4-oxathiine 4,4-dioxide,         2-methyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-pyran-3-carboxanilide,         2-methylfuran-3-carboxanilide,         2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxanilide,         2,4,5-trimethylfuran-3-carboxanilide,         N-cyclohexyl-2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxamide,         N-cyclohexyl-N-methoxy-2,5-dimethylfuran-3-carboxamide,         2-methylbenzanilide, 2-iodobenzanilide, N-formyl-N-morpholine         2,2,2-trichloroethyl acetal,         piperazine-1,4-diyl-bis-1-(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)formamide,         1-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-1-formyl-amino-2,2,2-trichloroethane,2,6-dimethyl-N-tridecylmorpholine         or its salts, 2,6-dimethyl-N-cyclododecylmorpholine or its         salts,         N-[3-(p-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropyl]-cis-2,6-dimethylmorpholine,         N-[3-(p-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methyl-propyl]piperidine,         1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-ethyl-1,3-di-oxolan-2-yl-ethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole,         1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-n-propyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole,         N-(n-propyl)-N-(2,4,6-trichlorophenoxyethyl)-N′-imidazolylurea,         1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanone,         1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanol,         (2RS,         3RS)-1-[3-(2-chloro-phenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl)oxiran-2-ylmethyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole         α-(2-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-pyrimidine-methanol,         5-butyl-2-dimethylamino-4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrimidine,         bis(p-chlorophenyl)-3-pyridinemethanol,         1,2-bis(3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-thioureido)benzene,         1,2-bis-(3-methoxycarbonyl-2-thioureido)benzene;     -   strobilurins, such as methyl         E-methoximino-[α-(o-tolyloxy)-o-tolyl]acetate, methyl         E-2-{2-[6-(2-cyanophenoxy)-pyridimin-4-yloxy]-phenyl}-3-methoxyacrylate,         methyl E-methoximino-[α-(2-phenoxyphenyl)]acetamide, methyl         E-methoximino-[α-(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-o-tolyl]acetamide;     -   anilinopyrimidines, such as         N-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)aniline,         N-[4-methyl-6-(1-propynyl)pyrimidin-2-yl]aniline,         N-(4-methyl-6-cyclopropylpyrimidin-2-yl)aniline;     -   phenylpyrroles, such as         4-(2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)pyrrole-3-carbonitrile;     -   cinnamamides, such as         3-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)acryloylmorpholide;     -   and a variety of fungicides, such as dodecylguanidine acetate,         3-[3-(3,5-dimethyl-2-oxycyclohexyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]glutarimide,         hexachlorobenzene, methyl         N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(2-furoyl)-DL-alaninate,         DL-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(2′-methoxyacetyl)alanine methyl         ester,         N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-chloroacetyl-D,L-2-aminobutyrolactone,         DL-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(phenylacetyl)alanine methyl ester,         5-methyl-5-vinyl-3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-dioxo-1,3-oxazolidine,         3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-5-methoxy-methyl-1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-dione,         3-(3,5-dichloro-phenyl)-1-isopropylcarbamoylhydantoin,         N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1,2-dicarboximide,         2-cyano-[N-(ethylaminocarbonyl)-2-methoximino]acetamide,         1-[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)pentyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole,         2,4-difluoro-α-(1H-1,2,4-triazolyl-1-methyl)benzohydryl alcohol,         N-(3-chloro-2,6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-trifluoromethyl-3-chloro-2-aminopyridine,         1-((bis-(4-fluorophenyl)methylsilyl)methyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole.

As examples of crops that might be modifild by plant growth promotion action, there are vegetables, nuts or fruits.

A further aspect of the present invention is, that mixtures of the amide compounds of the formula I with strobilurins are suitable in the method of plant growth promotion.

Suitable Strobilurins for these mixtures are for example azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin or trifloxystrobin.

Amide compound I and strobilurin are preferably employed in a weight ratio in the range of from 20:1 to 1:20, in particular from 10:1 to 1:10.

The amide compounds of the formular I and the strobilurin may be applied simultaneously, that is either together or separately, or in succession.

As examples of crops that might be modified by plant growth regulating action, there are vegetables, nuts or fruits.

The precise amount of amide compound will depend upon the particular plant species being treated. This may be determined by the man skilled in the art with a few experiments and may vary in plant responses depending upon the total amount of compound used, as well as the particular plant species, which is being treated. Of course, the amount of amide compound should be non-phytotoxic with respect of the plant being treated.

Although the preferred method of application of the amide compounds used in the process of this invention is directly to the foliage and stems of plants, it as been deemed that such compounds may be applied to the soil in which the plants are growing, and that such compounds will be root-absorbed to a sufficient extent so as to result in plant responses in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

The following examples are illustrative of methods of plant growth regulation according to the invention, but should not be understood as limiting the said instant invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Onions were transplanted in a 7×30 feet plot. 7 days after transplanting, onions were sprayed with product, BAS 516, containing 25.2% of boscalid. The spray contained also 12.8% of pyraclostrobin. BAS 516 was sprayed at a use rate of 0.45 lb. per acre of active ingredient. With a help of an adjuvant at 0.06% the onions were treated 5 times every 7 days after the first treatment. During this time plants were properly watered. 14 days after the last treatment, the crop yield was measured. The crop yield per acre increased by 4.2% compared to the untreated plot. In this trial, no fungal diseases were present.

EXAMPLE 2

Canola seeds were sown in a 56 square feet plot. 47 days after sowing, crop was sprayed with product containing 70% of boscalid. This treatment was at 35% of bloom. The canola was treated so as to have a dose of 0.26 lbs per acre of active ingredient. During the trial plants were properly watered. 58 days after the last treatment or 105 days after sowing the plants, the crop yield was measured. The crop yield per acre increased by 21% compared to the untreated plot. In this trial limited fungal disease were present.

EXAMPLE 3

Example 2 was repeated except that product was applied at 50% bloom, which means 50 days after sowing. Same results were obtained but the increase of yield was 22% compared to the untreated plot.

EXAMPLE 4

8 year old Grapes stocks were treated on a 8×24 feet plot. Grapes were sprayed first when 6 inches of new vine has occurred with suspension emulsion of a product, BAS 516, containing 25.2% of boscalid. The spray contained also 12.8% of pyraclostrobin. BAS 516 was sprayed at a use rate of 0.2 lb. per acre of active ingredient every 14 days. These sprays were rotated by treatments with a 80% suspension which contains 3 lbs per acre of active ingredient in a 14 days interval starting 7 days after the first BAS 516 application. After the 7th treatment with BAS 516 grapes stayed for 88 days on the vines. 182 days after the first treatment the grapes size and weight were evaluated. The results were observed from the grapes emergence through to harvest. Limited diseases pressure was present in this trial. A 11.8 times higher yield was observed with following plant growth regulating effect: bigger berries, increased weight cluster, greener plants and higher plants.

While the invention has been described in terms of various preferred embodiments, the skilled artisan will appreciate that various modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes can be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be limited solely by the scope of the following claims, including equivalents thereof. 

1. A method for treating plants in need of growth promotion, comprising applying to said plants, to the seeds from which they grow or to the locus in which they grow, a non-phytotoxic, effective plant growth promoting amount of an amide compound having the formula I A-CO—NR¹R²  I in which A is an aryl group or an aromatic or non-aromatic, 5- or 6-membered heterocycle which has from 1 to 3 hetero atoms which are selected from O, N and S; where the aryl group or the heterocycle may or may not have 1, 2 or 3 substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, halogen, CHF₂, CF₃, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio, alkylsulfinyl and alkylsulfonyl; R¹ is a hydrogen atom; R² is a phenyl or cycloalkyl group which may or may not have 1, 2 or 3 substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyloxy, cycloalkenyloxy, phenyl and halogen, where the aliphatic and cycloaliphatic radicals may be partially or fully halogenated and/or the cycloaliphatic radicals may be substituted by from 1 to 3 alkyl groups and where the phenyl group may have from 1 to 5 halogen atoms and/or from 1 to 3 substituents which are selected, independently of one another, from alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkylthio and haloalkylthio, and where the amidic phenyl group may or may not be condensed with a saturated 5-membered ring which may or may not be substituted by one or more alkyl groups and/or may have a hetero atom selected from O and S.
 2. A method according to claim 1, which comprises an amide compound of the formula Ia below:

in which A is

X is methylene, sulfur, sulfinyl or sulfonyl (SO₂), R³ is methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorine, bromine or iodine, R⁴ is trifluoromethyl or chlorine, R⁵ is hydrogen or methyl, R⁶ is methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl or chlorine, R⁷ is hydrogen, methyl or chlorine, R⁸ is methyl, difluoromethyl or trifluoromethyl, R⁹ is hydrogen, methyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl or chlorine, R¹⁰ is C₁-C₄-alkyl, C₁-C₄-alkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkylthio or halogen.
 3. A method according to claim 1, which comprises as amide compound a compound of the formula Ib below:

in which R⁴ is halogen and R¹¹ is phenyl which is substituted by halogen.
 4. A method according to claim 1, which comprises as amide compound a compound of the formulae below:


5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the amide compound of formula (I) is 2-chloro-N-(4-chlorobiphenyl-2-yl)nicotinamide.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plant growth promoting amount of the amide compound of formula (I) applied is sufficient to provide at least one plant growth promoting effect selected from the group consisting of: a) bigger fruit size b) bigger vegetable size c) higher sugar concentration of fruits d) more developed root system e) higher crop firmness f) longer storability g) improved appearance h) better fruit finish i) earlier fruit maturation j) increase in plant height k) bigger leaf blade l) less dead basal leaves m) greener leaf color n) earlier flowering o) increased shoot growth p) improved plant vigour q) early germination.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the amide compound of formula (I) is applied to said plants or the locus in which they grow in the form of granules at an application rate of from about 0.005 kg/ha to about 0.5 kg/ha of compound of formula (I).
 8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the application rate is from about 0.01 kg/ha to about 0.2 kg/ha of compound of formula (I).
 9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plants being selected from the group consisting of rice, corn, cereal and vegetable plants and turf.
 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein a mixture of the amide compound of formula I with a strobilurin is used.
 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the strobilurin is selected from the group consisting of azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin or trifloxystrobin.
 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein a mixture boscalid with pyraclostrobin is used.
 13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the ratio between the amide compound I and the strobilurin is from 20:1 to 1:20.
 14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the amide compound and the strobilurin are applied simultaneously, that is either together or separately, or in succession. 